Chinese Guangxi Hones

The Chinese 12k waterstone, or The Peoples Hone of Indeterminate Grit, is a stone quarried in the Guangxi provence in China. The ballpark of 12k grit comes from the Woodcraft catalogue. Some have rated theirs significantly below 12k, and some have rated theirs above 12k. Most consider them to be of high grit.

As a natural stone they vary, not all being the same. Some stones are soft and produce a light slurry with use, cutting quickly, but producing an edge which is less keen. Some are somewhat scratchy. Others however are both hard and fine. It seems the stones which are grey, rather than blue tinted, with dark figuring may be among the better.

It is considered a slow hone, sometimes requiring 100 or so strokes to finish. This can be sped up by using a slurry to start.